Agility training ball

ABSTRACT

In an inflatable ball, a substance is conveyed within its inner chamber which sticks to the inner surface subtending a small portion of the entirety of that inner surface. A rubber based catalyst is a particularly suitable substance because, when cured, it remains soft and pliable, enhancing its ability to remain adhered to the inner surface of an inflatable ball and to conform to the shape of that surface whether or not the ball is inflated. A heavy substance such as lead shot or stainless steel balls can be embedded into the liquid material prior to curing to increase the weight. Any substance embedded into the liquid material is introduced through the valve and port of the inflatable ball. With the center of gravity of the ball permanently altered, the ball has a tendency to rest in a position with the weighted material therewithin facing the ground surface on which the ball sits, and the ball has a tendency to stay in that position or to return to that position when an attempt is made to roll it in any direction away from that position. If a user succeeds in rolling the ball to a position where the portion of the inner surface engaging the weighted material rises to the top of the ball as it is rolled, when the ball is let go, it will move in an erratic way.

This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No.61/270,650, filed Jul. 13, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an agility training ball. In the priorart, a variety of spherical objects have been used in training athletes.In the game of football, it is important to teach linemen agility skillsso that they are able to perform the techniques necessary to effectivelyblock for running and passing plays. During a football game, theunforeseen always occurs, and an offensive lineman must be able toinstantaneously adapt to changing circumstances, such as when a defenderis not in the predicted position or when a pass rusher makes a move thatrequires an adjustment to stance, angulation, body position and otheraspects.

In the prior art, there are examples of balls that include objectscontained therewithin that alter the center of gravity, moving it fromthe center of the spherical ball. The following prior art is known toApplicant:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,737 to Farmer discloses an erratically rollable gamedevice consisting of a ball 14 having a second ball 24 contained withinand which includes magnets 31 that occasionally engage inserts 19 formedof a magnetic material on the inner surface of the outer ball 14. As thehollow body is rolled, the magnetic elements occasionally come intocontact with one another to momentarily secure the weight to the innersurface and thereby alter the rolling characteristics of the body. Thepresent invention differs from the teachings of Farmer as contemplatinga hollow inflatable ball in which a substance is permanently affixed atone location about the inner surface of the inner chamber to cause theball to have its center of gravity permanently altered to a specificsingular location.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,418 to McNeill discloses a surface projectile andtarget game in which a hollow ball 10 has an inner chamber in which islocated a quantity of lead shot or other fluent material such asmercury. One embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of McNeill contemplates thecombination of a moving substance 11 and a fixed weight 14. The presentinvention differs from the teachings of McNeill as solely contemplatinga fixed weight mounted at a particular location in the inner surface ofthe chamber of a hollow ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,540 to Leslie discloses an erratically movableinflated game ball having an inner chamber in which a movable bladder 20is provided which is filled with a liquid. The present invention differsfrom the teachings of Leslie as contemplating a weighted substancepermanently affixed at a single location on the inner surface of achamber of an inflated ball. U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,610 to Leslie arosefrom a divisional of the application from which U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,540arose. As such, the disclosures are the same.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,622 to Chung discloses a ball with unpredictablebounce. The Chung ball has a solid interior into which a cavity iscreated with a second ball disposed therein to move the center ofgravity a distance “X.” The present invention differs from the teachingsof Chung as contemplating a substance affixed to the inner wall of ahollow inflated ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an agility training ball. The presentinvention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects andfeatures:

(1) In a first aspect of the present invention, what is contemplated isa large inflated ball, perhaps up to 48 inches in diameter. The inflatedball is filled with air to inflate it.

(2) Either before or after inflation, a substance is conveyed within theinner chamber of the inflatable or inflated ball. One example of such asubstance is a rubber based catalyst. The substance when inserted sticksto the inner surface of the ball at one location about the inner surfacethereof that subtends a small portion of the entirety of that innersurface. The rubber based catalyst is a particularly suitable substancebecause, when cured, it remains soft and pliable, enhancing its abilityto remain adhered to the inner surface of an inflatable ball and toconform to the shape of that surface whether or not the ball isinflated.

(3) While a rubber based catalyst is identified as one desiredsubstance, any substance that will stick to the inner surface of theinner chamber of an inflated or inflatable ball and will conform to thatinner surface under a variety of conditions is suitable for use inassociation with the present invention. As well, such a rubber basedcatalyst or other substance can be introduced in liquid form into theinner chamber via the valve and port thereof, whereupon it cures orotherwise solidifies stuck to the inner wall of the inner chamber of theball. If desired, a heavy substance such as lead shot or stainless steelballs can be embedded into the liquid material prior to curing toincrease the weight. Preferably, any substance embedded into the liquidmaterial is introduced through the valve and port of the inflatableball.

(4) Once the material inserted within the inner chamber of the ball hassolidified, cured or otherwise hardened, the inflated ball is ready foruse. With the weight distribution and center of gravity of the ballpermanently altered in one particular manner, the ball has a tendency torest in a position with the weighted material therewithin facing theground surface on which the ball sits. Given the alteration of thecenter of gravity, the ball has a tendency to stay in that position orto return to that position when an attempt is made to roll it in anydirection away from that position. If a user succeeds in rolling theball to a position where the portion of the inner surface engaging theweighted material rises to the top of the ball as it is rolled, when theball is let go, it will move in an erratic way.

(5) An offensive lineman using the inventive ball for training purposeswill find it difficult to roll the ball to a position where the weightedsubstance is at the top and will learn agility skills while trying tomanipulate the ball on the ground.

As such, it is a first object of the present invention to provide anagility training ball.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a ballpartially filled with a weighted substance to move the center of gravityaway from its center.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such aball which is inflatable.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such aball useful as a trainer for offensive football linemen.

These and other objects, aspects and features of the present inventionwill be better understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the appended drawingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a ball in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention including schematically depicting alternatesurface textures.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the ball along the line 2-2of FIG. 1.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a ball or sphere suitable for use inassociation with the present invention. The ball 1 has an outer surface2 that may be non-smooth, including ribbing 3 on the surface or anyother textured surface such as corrugations, ribbing, a roughenedsurface 9 and the like to enhance the grip on the surface by a lineman.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ball 1 includes the port 6 connected to thestandard inflation valve 5 that facilitates admission of air into thechamber 4.

As also seen in FIG. 2, a substance 7 is located in one location on theinner wall 8 of the chamber 4. The substance 7 subtends a small fractionof the entirety of the surface 8 and adheres at that location and isimmovable. The substance 7 may comprise any desired material that can bemade to adhere at one location on the inner surface 8 of the chamber 4of the ball 1 and is soft enough when cured to conform to the innersurface 8 whether or not the ball is inflated. One example of such asubstance is a rubber based catalyst that may be conveyed into thechamber 4 via the valve 5 and the port 6. By gravity, the substance 7,in its uncured state, collects at one location where it hardens andsticks to the wall 8. Any desired such substance is suitable for thepurposes of the present invention. It is, however, preferred that thesubstance 7 be a substance that can be inserted into the chamber 4 viathe valve 5 and port 6. This makes it easier to create the presentinvention since the ball can be assembled as it normally is assembledand then the substance 7 can be subsequently inserted. Otherwise, thesubstance would have to be inserted prior to installation of the valve 5and port 6.

Any suitable substance 7 may be employed for the purposes of the presentinvention. The sole requirements are that the substance be permanentlyaffixed at one location on the surface 8 of the ball, that the substanceeasily conform to the surface 8 of the ball, and that the substance 7alter the center of gravity of the ball 1 so that it rolls irregularlyand resists rolling from a position with the substance 7 facing a groundsurface on which the ball 1 rests.

The ball 1 may be made of any suitable size allowing it to be moved byan offensive lineman of a football team so that the lineman can learnagility skills and enhance them. Preferably, the ball is not less than12 inches in diameter and may be up to 48 inches or more in diameter.

The present invention also contemplates the method of manufacturing theinventive ball. That method includes the steps of obtaining aninflatable ball having an inflated diameter of up to or exceeding 48inches, the ball including an inflation valve and a port, selecting asubstance to be introduced into the inner chamber of the ball via thevalve and port, which substance will conform to a portion of the innersurface of the ball, the portion consisting of a fraction of theentirety of the inner surface, introducing the substance into the innerchamber of the ball via the valve and port, allowing the substance tocure and harden, inflating the ball, and using it for the purposesdescribed hereinabove.

Materials from which the substance 7 may be made include plastic,rubber, synthetic rubber, and may include such materials with heavymaterials embedded therein such as, for example, grains of sand, smallBBs, or other materials. Whatever material or combination of materialsis/are used, they fall within the teachings of the present invention solong as once cured, hardened, or otherwise permanently stabilized, theyremain in a fixed location on the inner surface 8 of the chamber 4 ofthe ball 1 subtending only a small fraction of the surface 8 thereof,and remain pliable so that (1) they remain adhered to the surface 8, and(2) they reduce the possibility of injury to a player using the ball totrain.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferredembodiment thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects ofthe invention as set forth hereinabove, and provides a new and usefulagility training ball of great novelty and utility.

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilledin the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.

As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited bythe terms of the appended claims.

1. An improved training ball, comprising: a) an inflatable sphere havingan internal chamber defined by an inner surface, and an outer surface;b) a substance adhered to a portion of said inner surface and beingnon-movable with respect to said inner surface; c) said substance movinga center of gravity of said ball from an original central locationthereof without said substance adhered therein, to a location offsetfrom said central location.
 2. The ball of claim 1, further including aninflation valve mounted on said sphere and permitting inflation of saidball through introduction of gas into said internal chamber via saidvalve.
 3. The ball of claim 1, wherein said outer surface is non-smooth.4. The ball of claim 3, wherein said outer surface is ribbed.
 5. Theball of claim 3, wherein said outer surface is roughened.
 6. The ball ofclaim 1, wherein said substance is chosen from the group consisting of arubber-based catalyst, plastic, rubber and synthetic rubber.
 7. The ballof claim 6, wherein said substance has embedded therein a weightedmaterial.
 8. The ball of claim 7, wherein said weighted material ischosen from the group consisting of grains of sand and BBs.
 9. The ballof claim 6, wherein said substance is flexible.
 10. The ball of claim 9,wherein said portion comprises less than half said inner surface. 11.The ball of claim 9, wherein said outer surface is non-smooth.
 12. Theball of claim 2, wherein said substance is chosen from the groupconsisting of a rubber-based catalyst, plastic, rubber and syntheticrubber.
 13. The ball of claim 12, wherein said substance is flexible.14. A method of making a training ball including the steps of: a)providing an inflatable sphere having an internal chamber defined by aninner surface, and an outer surface; b) providing said sphere with aninflation valve; c) inflating said sphere by introducing gas into saidinternal chamber through said valve; d) introducing a liquid into saidinternal chamber through said inflation valve; e) hardening said liquidinto a hardened substance within said chamber, said hardened substanceadhering to said inner surface.
 15. The method of claim 14, saidsubstance being chosen from the group consisting of a rubber-basedcatalyst, plastic, rubber and synthetic rubber.
 16. The method of claim14, wherein said hardened substance adheres to a portion of said innersurface.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said portion comprises lessthan half said inner surface.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein, priorto said liquid hardening, embedding a weighted material therein.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein said weighted material is chosen from thegroup consisting of grains of sand and BBs.
 20. The method of claim 16,wherein said substance is flexible.